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RUSSIAN RESURRECTION - The Good Boy Reviewed By Clayton Barnett

Winner of the Best Film and Audience’s Choice
categories at the 2016 Kinotavr Film Festival, this playful romantic comedy
looks at six adventure filled days of Kolya, a 16-year-old schoolboy. In a
whirlwind six days, he kisses the most popular girl in school, falls in love
with his teacher, takes on the school bully and investigates a mysterious
computer lab fire! Kolya must learn how to handle responsibility and do what is
right, even if the adults don’t! This gem is packed with adventure and will be
sure to keep audiences on their toes, for all the twists and turns young love
brings.

The Review

The Russian Resurrection Film
Festival has been a revelation – the Russians have a brilliant quirky sense of
humour that I never knew about. And that quirky offbeat humour is in great
supply in the rather good The Good Boy.

Set at a Russian high school full of
misfits and oddballs - and that’s just the staff – The Good Boy sees a
self-aware and slightly nerdy sixth former caught in a love triangle with a
beautiful teacher and the daughter of the school principal. But that’s just the
half of it; all sorts of madcap subplots play out as the school builds towards
a grand celebration.

Winner of the Best Film and
Audience’s Choice at Kinotavr - Russia’s biggest film festival – this is one of
those hidden and hilarious gems that deserves a general release. Director
Oksana Karas, in only her second feature, weaves all the crazy going-ons with a
skilled hand. She’s picked a cracker cast and shows the West how a playful
romantic comedy should be done. It all feels so genuine and slice-of-life when
the infectious dance finale finishes you just don’t want it to stop.

Get along to Rialto on Sunday night
to catch its only screening, you won’t regret it.